Mayfield Vineyard Estate'Backyard' Riesling
2022 Riesling
Orange, New South Wales
Vibrant aromas of citrus, musk and a hint of spice. The palate is juicy with driving acidity complemented by balanced, attractive fruit sweetness and a menagerie of citrus and stone fruit flavours. It has a long, linear structure and delicate balance of sweetness and acid.
ORANGE WINE SHOW 2022
Gold Medal
96 POINTS, SAM KIM, WINE ORBIT
Precise with stunning clarity, the wine shows crunchy apple, lime cordial and lemon pith aromas, followed by a brilliantly focused palate displaying outstanding concentration and poise. It's exquisite and refined with awesome structure, finishing with captivating tension and drive. At its best: 2025 to 2039.
93 POINTS, WBM MAGAZINE, Mike Bennie
Orange and Riesling seem easy bedfellows and here's another reason to turn your gaze to the cool climes and higher altitude of the region. Fragrant with citrus blossom, green apple, blackcurrant and brambly herbs. The palate is tight and racy, skeletal and barely-there juicy with crisp, dry, green apple juice characters and a squeeze of grapefruit juice.
9.4/10 MAX CRUS, Sunday Column
"Fancy having riesling vines in your backyard? Yep, that's where this gets its name. Who apart from the kids, wouldn't give up a cricket pitch for a riesling patch? You wouldn't get any argument from the current Aussie cricket team surely. Smart stuff, definitely more Smith than Warner."
93 POINTS, HUON HOOKE, THE REAL REVIEW
Very delicate, light-bodied and classic, dry. Has 5 grams per litre sweetness but feels quite dry. Accessible and excellent. (From the highest block of the vineyard)
93 POINTS, WINE PILOT, Shanteh Wale
Acknowledged as one of Orange’s most distinguished sites for Riesling, the backyard block sits at 925m in elevation and faces due North. Picked in the cool of the night and pressed straight into stainless steel. The 2022 shows native finger lime, blossoming jasmine and silver needle white tea. It’s followed by tart orchard apples and chalky minerality with powdery texture. There is delicate precision and handling with the wine finishing with 5 grams of residual sugar, some decent palate weight and lingering length.
92 POINTS, ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE - Erin Larkin
This 2022 Riesling is incredibly tight and mineral on the nose. Crushed shells, Dispirin (aspirin), tissue paper and lemon oil. In the mouth, the wine is featherlight and talc-y; the cool elevation of Orange (where this wine is from) imbues the wine with an airy yet grounded character. Super lovely. It's delicate and lacy.
93 POINTS, WINE PILOT, Ken Gargett
We often think that Aussie Riesling starts and stops in the Clare and Eden Valleys, with the occasional cameo from the West. Wines like this put paid to that lie. A cooler climate, high altitude Riesling, this is near colourless, but that makes no difference to the exquisite nose with its elegant, ethereal aromatics. A mix of tropical notes, guava and passionfruit. Focused, balanced and moving to hints of citrus. Good acidity runs the length of the wine, while the tropical notes linger on the palate. Sure, this is very different to what we know and love from the Clare and Eden Valleys, but it is delicious, nonetheless. Drink now and for six to eight years.
91 POINTS, WINE PILOT, Angus Hughson
Very pale colour and shows the piercing aromas of site and altitude, 925m above sea level. Bright and piquant, there are aromas of walking through an orchard of pear blossom with an exotic edge of kaffir lime. Fresh as the driven snow, it is then light weight, dainty and silky with restrained citrus juice and pithy fruit flavours with a delicious balance of vibrant acidity with a touch of sweetness. Pure refreshment on a warm Summer’s day.
16/20 JANCIS ROBINSON
Of these, the wines of Orange – a region of just over 1,000 ha (2,471 acres) of vines – were notably successful, especially those of Mayfield and Philip Shaw. The element of elevation (up to around 1,000 m/3,280 ft) seems to add an extra dimension of freshness and purity to the wines. Lemon-sherbet nose, fresh and very zesty. Well-judged residual sugar gives some depth and weight to the fresh acid core. Limy, mandarin – drinking well now but should also age well. A fresh, balanced and appealing style.
CIAO MAGAZINE, Winsor Dobbin
Looking for a wine to partner with Thai, Korean or Vietnamese dishes? This fragrant number is right on target with its juicy citrus fruit notes – which contain a hint of residual sugar – that would pair nicely with some spice. There are lemon/lime sorbet and Granny Smith fruit notes on the palate, which is balanced with some crisp acidity at the end. A lovely wine – impressively refreshing – from an Orange region stalwart that is clearly back in top gear
92 POINTS, QWINE, Feb 2023
A smart Riesling from a new producer to me. From Orange, NSW, the minerally drive and cool climate vibe sing all the joyful things. The vineyard is perched 924 metres above and delivers green apples and apple sours early. There is a faint herby edge too. The 5 grams of residual sugar is well-balanced and has me thinking of a spicy Asian dish to sit beside it. Lime juice and Kaffir lime leaf muse with white flowers on a lingering finish. A chalky textural feel lingers leaving a pretty mouth perfume in its wake. Great stuff! Drink to five years.
4.5 STARS, NEWCASTLE HERALD, John Lewis
"...The wine is pale straw-hued, honeysuckle-scented and has crisp lime front palate flavour. The middle palate features nashi pear, apple peel, and slate elements and a finish of steely acid. Good with salad nicoise and cellar five years."
THE GRAPE HUNTER, Gilbert Labour
The 2022 Mayfield 'Backyard Riesling' is highly reflective of its high (925 mts) elevation both in aroma and flavours. It channels some of the recognised Germanic-style Rieslings, with 5g/L residual sugar and 7.5g/L acidity. It is a well-handled, palate-satisfying Riesling expressing Turkish delight and a crisp, tingling acid profile. It's an ideal accompaniment to Asian-style dishes as well as charcuterie plates..very moreish.
PS NEWS, Christine Salins, Nov 2022
A cool vintage and longer than usual growing season has paid off in beautiful ripeness without the alcohol. Owner John Eastham reckons this is one of the best Riesling sites in the region – at an elevation of 925 metres, it’s basically in his backyard as it backs onto his house block. A gold medal winner at the Orange Region Wine Show, it is very aromatic with lively citrus and musk notes, and a hint of spice.
'EXCELLENT', WINE ASSIST, Dan Traucki, Feb 2023
"Very attractive citrus- lemon, lime bouquet, delightful crisp, zingy palate with lashings of citrus flavours and a zippy, refreshing finish. Perfect for an Antipasto!!! EXCELLENT!!"
WORDS FROM A WINEGLASS, Tony Peters
This Riesling had me excited right from the moment the aromas lifted from the glass when I poured it! And those aromas continued on the vibrant palate where it was limey and a little passion-fruity and a mouth-watering apple like acidity was beautifully balanced by nicely played residual sugar. It had a really good ‘feel’ to it across the palate as well which had me smiling broadly as it lingered for some time after swallowing it. A lovely Riesling indeed. Price: $34 (bargain!)
91 POINTS, THE VINSOMNIAC, Stuart Robinson
"Expressive Riesling from the Orange region: passionfruit, sour apples, suggestion of under-ripe banana in the mix too. Soft on entry, soon yielding to a vibrant, minerally acidity giving energy and length. Limes and kaffir leaf lead to thoughts of spicy Thai on hot days."
92 POINTS, VINONOTEBOOK, REGAN DREW
Very pale lemon hue. Floral nose with pear and apple, lime and sweet kisses of musk. Textural and bracing. The residual sugar manages to calm the edges of the intense acidity and provide a little slickness through the middle. Bracing and refreshing.
Wine Details
- Region Orange, New South Wales
- Vintage 2022
- Type White Wine
- Variety Riesling
- Vegan Friendly ✔
ORANGE WINE SHOW 2022
Gold Medal
96 POINTS, SAM KIM, WINE ORBIT
Precise with stunning clarity, the wine shows crunchy apple, lime cordial and lemon pith aromas, followed by a brilliantly focused palate displaying outstanding concentration and poise. It's exquisite and refined with awesome structure, finishing with captivating tension and drive. At its best: 2025 to 2039.
93 POINTS, WBM MAGAZINE, Mike Bennie
Orange and Riesling seem easy bedfellows and here's another reason to turn your gaze to the cool climes and higher altitude of the region. Fragrant with citrus blossom, green apple, blackcurrant and brambly herbs. The palate is tight and racy, skeletal and barely-there juicy with crisp, dry, green apple juice characters and a squeeze of grapefruit juice.
9.4/10 MAX CRUS, Sunday Column
"Fancy having riesling vines in your backyard? Yep, that's where this gets its name. Who apart from the kids, wouldn't give up a cricket pitch for a riesling patch? You wouldn't get any argument from the current Aussie cricket team surely. Smart stuff, definitely more Smith than Warner."
93 POINTS, HUON HOOKE, THE REAL REVIEW
Very delicate, light-bodied and classic, dry. Has 5 grams per litre sweetness but feels quite dry. Accessible and excellent. (From the highest block of the vineyard)
93 POINTS, WINE PILOT, Shanteh Wale
Acknowledged as one of Orange’s most distinguished sites for Riesling, the backyard block sits at 925m in elevation and faces due North. Picked in the cool of the night and pressed straight into stainless steel. The 2022 shows native finger lime, blossoming jasmine and silver needle white tea. It’s followed by tart orchard apples and chalky minerality with powdery texture. There is delicate precision and handling with the wine finishing with 5 grams of residual sugar, some decent palate weight and lingering length.
92 POINTS, ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE - Erin Larkin
This 2022 Riesling is incredibly tight and mineral on the nose. Crushed shells, Dispirin (aspirin), tissue paper and lemon oil. In the mouth, the wine is featherlight and talc-y; the cool elevation of Orange (where this wine is from) imbues the wine with an airy yet grounded character. Super lovely. It's delicate and lacy.
93 POINTS, WINE PILOT, Ken Gargett
We often think that Aussie Riesling starts and stops in the Clare and Eden Valleys, with the occasional cameo from the West. Wines like this put paid to that lie. A cooler climate, high altitude Riesling, this is near colourless, but that makes no difference to the exquisite nose with its elegant, ethereal aromatics. A mix of tropical notes, guava and passionfruit. Focused, balanced and moving to hints of citrus. Good acidity runs the length of the wine, while the tropical notes linger on the palate. Sure, this is very different to what we know and love from the Clare and Eden Valleys, but it is delicious, nonetheless. Drink now and for six to eight years.
91 POINTS, WINE PILOT, Angus Hughson
Very pale colour and shows the piercing aromas of site and altitude, 925m above sea level. Bright and piquant, there are aromas of walking through an orchard of pear blossom with an exotic edge of kaffir lime. Fresh as the driven snow, it is then light weight, dainty and silky with restrained citrus juice and pithy fruit flavours with a delicious balance of vibrant acidity with a touch of sweetness. Pure refreshment on a warm Summer’s day.
16/20 JANCIS ROBINSON
Of these, the wines of Orange – a region of just over 1,000 ha (2,471 acres) of vines – were notably successful, especially those of Mayfield and Philip Shaw. The element of elevation (up to around 1,000 m/3,280 ft) seems to add an extra dimension of freshness and purity to the wines. Lemon-sherbet nose, fresh and very zesty. Well-judged residual sugar gives some depth and weight to the fresh acid core. Limy, mandarin – drinking well now but should also age well. A fresh, balanced and appealing style.
CIAO MAGAZINE, Winsor Dobbin
Looking for a wine to partner with Thai, Korean or Vietnamese dishes? This fragrant number is right on target with its juicy citrus fruit notes – which contain a hint of residual sugar – that would pair nicely with some spice. There are lemon/lime sorbet and Granny Smith fruit notes on the palate, which is balanced with some crisp acidity at the end. A lovely wine – impressively refreshing – from an Orange region stalwart that is clearly back in top gear
92 POINTS, QWINE, Feb 2023
A smart Riesling from a new producer to me. From Orange, NSW, the minerally drive and cool climate vibe sing all the joyful things. The vineyard is perched 924 metres above and delivers green apples and apple sours early. There is a faint herby edge too. The 5 grams of residual sugar is well-balanced and has me thinking of a spicy Asian dish to sit beside it. Lime juice and Kaffir lime leaf muse with white flowers on a lingering finish. A chalky textural feel lingers leaving a pretty mouth perfume in its wake. Great stuff! Drink to five years.
4.5 STARS, NEWCASTLE HERALD, John Lewis
"...The wine is pale straw-hued, honeysuckle-scented and has crisp lime front palate flavour. The middle palate features nashi pear, apple peel, and slate elements and a finish of steely acid. Good with salad nicoise and cellar five years."
THE GRAPE HUNTER, Gilbert Labour
The 2022 Mayfield 'Backyard Riesling' is highly reflective of its high (925 mts) elevation both in aroma and flavours. It channels some of the recognised Germanic-style Rieslings, with 5g/L residual sugar and 7.5g/L acidity. It is a well-handled, palate-satisfying Riesling expressing Turkish delight and a crisp, tingling acid profile. It's an ideal accompaniment to Asian-style dishes as well as charcuterie plates..very moreish.
PS NEWS, Christine Salins, Nov 2022
A cool vintage and longer than usual growing season has paid off in beautiful ripeness without the alcohol. Owner John Eastham reckons this is one of the best Riesling sites in the region – at an elevation of 925 metres, it’s basically in his backyard as it backs onto his house block. A gold medal winner at the Orange Region Wine Show, it is very aromatic with lively citrus and musk notes, and a hint of spice.
'EXCELLENT', WINE ASSIST, Dan Traucki, Feb 2023
"Very attractive citrus- lemon, lime bouquet, delightful crisp, zingy palate with lashings of citrus flavours and a zippy, refreshing finish. Perfect for an Antipasto!!! EXCELLENT!!"
WORDS FROM A WINEGLASS, Tony Peters
This Riesling had me excited right from the moment the aromas lifted from the glass when I poured it! And those aromas continued on the vibrant palate where it was limey and a little passion-fruity and a mouth-watering apple like acidity was beautifully balanced by nicely played residual sugar. It had a really good ‘feel’ to it across the palate as well which had me smiling broadly as it lingered for some time after swallowing it. A lovely Riesling indeed. Price: $34 (bargain!)
91 POINTS, THE VINSOMNIAC, Stuart Robinson
"Expressive Riesling from the Orange region: passionfruit, sour apples, suggestion of under-ripe banana in the mix too. Soft on entry, soon yielding to a vibrant, minerally acidity giving energy and length. Limes and kaffir leaf lead to thoughts of spicy Thai on hot days."
92 POINTS, VINONOTEBOOK, REGAN DREW
Very pale lemon hue. Floral nose with pear and apple, lime and sweet kisses of musk. Textural and bracing. The residual sugar manages to calm the edges of the intense acidity and provide a little slickness through the middle. Bracing and refreshing.
Wine Details
- Region Orange, New South Wales
- Vintage 2022
- Type White Wine
- Variety Riesling
- Vegan Friendly ✔
